Photo: Lesekreis, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source
Chilean-American writer and one of the most widely read Spanish-language authors in the world. Her debut novel 'The House of the Spirits' (1982), blending magical realism with political drama, established her international reputation and drew on her own family's experience under the Pinochet dictatorship — her cousin Salvador Allende was the deposed president. She has written over 25 books, including 'Eva Luna,' 'Paula,' and 'City of the Beasts.' A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014), she founded the Isabel Allende Foundation supporting women's and girls' empowerment. Her books have sold over 77 million copies.
Source: Isabel Allende Official Site